All photos by Hogan Photos/Golden Boy Promotions
Saturday, October 3, 2015 from the StubHub Center in Carson, California, Lucas Matthysse (37-3, 34 KOs) takes on Viktor Postol (27-0, 11 KOs) for the vacant WBC Super Lightweight title.
The fight will air live on HBO Boxing After Dark starting at 10:15 pm, EST/PST.
The co-featured bout will showcase undefeated contender, Antonio Orozco (22-0, 15 KOs) as he takes on veteran Mexican tough guy, Humberto Soto (65-8-2, 35 KOs).
Read on for Round By Round Boxing’s staff predictions for Matthysse vs. Postol and Orozco vs. Soto and let us know who you think will win.
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Antonio Orozco
vs.
Humberto Soto
Lou Catalano, Senior Writer
Humberto Soto just won’t go away. Left for dead after getting butchered by Lucas Matthysse in 2012, he’s since rattled off seven straight wins.
Antonio Orozco is the young blood looking to stamp his resume with a nice name. Soto won’t be very accommodating, but the long layoff (he’s been dormant for a year) coupled with years of wear and tear will show their effects here.
Orozco by decision.
Prediction: Orozco
Kenny Keith, Contributing Writer
Humberto Soto will try the young and aggressive Orozco early in this fight. But, the young undefeated fighter will inevitably push the rugged veteran off of the proverbial cliff late in this fight with his high octane offense and superior punch output.
Antonio Orozco by close and competitive unanimous decision.
Prediction: Orozco
Tony Calcara, Staff Writer
Antonio Orozco faces a tough veteran in Humberto Soto. Activity may be the key here as I look for Orozco to be more active, work the body, and fire combinations.
I expect he will simply overwhelm Soto and be too much to handle. Orozco by decision
Prediction: Orozco
Ardy Ajoste, Graphic Designer
Prediction: Orozco
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
Antonio Orozco has had a good opportunity to gain fans via television spots this year. He was featured on Top Rank’s truTV series against Emmanuel Taylor and now gets a co-featured spot on HBO.
Orozco takes on 87-year-old Humberto Soto who I thought was finished before he faced John Molina in September of 2014. All jokes aside, Soto is old, but he’s also a bad ass who has only been stopped once in the last 15 years (by Lucas Matthysse).
I think Soto will push Orozco to engage and we’ll see what the young, undefeated fighter is made of. I think youth prevails in what should be a fun scrap.
Prediction: Orozco
Lucas Matthysse
vs.
Viktor Postol
Lou Catalano, Senior Writer
Very difficult fight for both guys. Viktor Postol is a tall, rangy boxer. Lucas Matthysse is the massive puncher.
If Postol can control the range, this thing becomes a nightmare for “The Machine.” But Matthysse has granite in both fists, and I’m betting he catches Postol and drops him early.
We’ll see if Postol has the grit. He’d be wise to use every inch of that ring, but he seems to like mixing it up. Doing that Saturday night would be incredibly unwise. Matthysse by KO.
Prediction: Matthysse
Kenny Keith, Contributing Writer
Lucas Matthysse has been involved in some very big fights in his career, but none can match the importance of this one. Matthysse has become the Phil Mickelson of boxing, chasing the elusive major title.
On the other side of this sweet science equation stands a very determined Viktor Postol, who has been waiting patiently for this day ever since Danny Garcia stopped facing mandatory challengers. The stakes are higher than they’ve ever been before as father-time will be watching the clock for this one.
Matthysse will have to be the aggressor in this fight and force the issue to make a statement for the judges. Postol will try and utilize his reach and accuracy to stave off a frustrated Matthysse who will find himself pressing to get close enough to hurt the Ukrainian.
Boxing with Postol will prove to be a mistake in this closely contested fight. But after a competitive 12 rounds of action, “The Machine” will find himself raising the WBC super lightweight title by way of controversial split decision.
Prediction: Matthysse
Tony Calcara, Staff Writer
Viktor Postol is a tough battler. Without a lot of punching power, he will have to rely more on his boxing skill.
Unfortunately for him, that won’t be enough against a destroyer like Lucas Matthysse who will cut of the ring and most likely break down Postol and stop him.
Prediction: Matthysse
Ardy Ajoste, Graphic Designer
Prediction: Matthysse
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
In Viktor Postol’s most notable fight–an HBO televised victory against Selcuk Aydin–Aydin got to Postol and rattled him early on. Postol settled down and ended up scoring a massive knockout.
Against Lucas Matthysse, Postol might have to weather a more serious early storm. The difference here is that Matthysse is a serious power puncher and a finisher. Postol has the height and reach advantage, but it’ll be interesting to see how he compares to Matthysse in terms of determination and heart.
We’ve seen Matthysse get knocked down, wobbled and buzzed so we know that he’ll get up and still keep fighting. What will Postol do? Postol has a good chance to stake his claim as one of the best Super Lightweights in the world, but I just think Matthysse’s power will be too much on Saturday night. I like Matthysse in a competitive bout.
Prediction: Matthysse
